Detonator mechanism



June 7, 1966 H. KLosTERMANN ETAL 3,254,602

DETONATOR MECHANISM Filed Sept. 18. 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORSHelamu KBIostermong au eermann FIG 2 Richard Schulte ATTORNEYS June 7,1966 H. KLosTl-:RMANN ETAL 3,254,602

DETONATOR MECHANISM Filed Sept. 18, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.3.

INVENTORS Helmut Klostermann Paul Beermann Bt FIG.4

Richard Schulte BY www j @i ATTORNEYSV United States Patent O 3,254,602DETONATOR MECHANISM Helmut Klostermann and Paul Beermann, Menden,Sauerland, and Richard Schulte, Huingsen, Germany, assignors to FirmaRichard Rinker, Menden, Sauerland, German y Filed Sept. 18, 1963, Ser.No. 309,652 Claims priority, application Germany, Sept. 22, 1962,

16 Claims. (Cl. 102-70) The present invention relates to a detonatormechanism.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a detonatormechanism which is of the type that explodes the charge when a weight orload resting on the mechanism is removed.

Det-onators of the above type Iare well known. They generally comprisela tiring pin which explodes the charge, as well as a locking devicewhich itself is under Ispring tension and which prevents the firing pinfrom striking the primer. The arrangement isy generally such that in thesafe condition of the detonator, the locking means are held, by means ofa clock mechanism, in a position in which the locking means preventmovement of .the firing pin, while in the armed condition, it is theweight resting on the locking `means which holds the locking means inthe position in which movement of the tiring pin is prevented.

Experience has shown that conventional detonators of the above type arerelatively complicated, expensive, and subject to malfunction, and itis, therefore, a p-rimary object of the present invention to provide adetonator mechanism of the above-described general type,

which detonator mechanism, however, overcomes the mentioned drawbacks.According to the present invention, this is accomplished by arrangingthe locking means centrally, or substantialy centrally, of the housing,and by arranging the clock mechanism radially with respect to thelocking means, the clock mechanism being provided with a slide elementwhich coacts with a locking projection of the lockingmeans.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will *becomeapparent upon consideration of the following description when taken inconjunction w-ith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a detonatormechanism according to the present invention, taken on line 1-1 ofFIGURE 2.

FIGURE 2 is -a top plan view of the `detonator mechanism of FIGURE l,but Without the cover.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional View of another embodiment of a detonatormechanism according to the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is a top sectional View taken on line 4 4 of FIGURE 3.

Referring now to the drawings and to FIGURES 1 and 2 thereof inparticular, the same show a releasetype detonator comprising asubstantially annular housing 1 made of a plastic material and providedwith an integral web extending diametrically through the housing. Thetop and bottom of the housing are closed oit by covers 2 and 3. Arrangedwithin a suitalbly configured and preferably rectangular recess in theweb is a clock mechanism 4, the same having a winding stem 4a passingupwardly through the cover 2, and locking slide 4b. The 'clock mechanismis held in place by means of `screws 5. The covers 2 and 3 `are held inplace by means of screws (not shown) which are screwed into threadedbores 6 of the housing 1. A lever 7, which is made, for

example, of stamped sheet metal and which is pivotally attached to thehousing 1 by means of a pin 10, coacts rc l 'with the rocking `Slide 4b.This iever 7 is provid@ with a lblocking element in the form of a lng7a, a locking projection 7b, and a head 7c. The head 7c extends throughan opening of the cover 2, which opening is tightly sealed by means of amembrane 8 made, for example, of rubber. Located above the head 7 and onthe other side of the membrane 8 is a plate 9.

The web of the housing is provided with a cylindrical and stepped recesswhich is closed off by means of a screw ring 11 and a spacer ring 12.Arranged within this recess is a primer charge assembly incorporating aprimer charge 13 of nitropent-a or other suitable material, a percussioncap tube 14, and a primer holder 15 carrying the primer 16. Aligned withthe primer 16 is an axially displacearble ring pin 17 having a head 17a,the ring pin being continou-sly biased toward the primer 16 by la tiringpin spring 18.

Arranged within the percussion cap tube 14 is the percussion cap 19. Inorder that same may be inserted Iafter the rest of the device i-sassembled, the screw ring 11 is adapted to receive a closure screw 20which is screwed tightly into ring 11.

The detonator mechanism further comprises sealing discs 21 and 22 andsealing rings 23 and 24.

The winding stem 4a of the clock mechanism carries a wind-up handle 25which is pivotally connected to the stem 4a and may thus `occupy theposition shown in FIGURE 1, or it may be folded down, the :arrangementbeing, in practice, such that when the handle 25 is folded down, it isreceived in a depression formed in the cover 2 so as to lie flush withthe rest of the cover.

Finally, the detonator mechanism includes the explosive charges 26 and27 which may be briquetted to have the desired configuration which willenable them to fit into the two compartments into which the interior ofthe housing 1 is divided by the web.

The device operates :as follows:

The clock mechanism 4 is wound up by means of the handle 25, whereuponthe clock mechanism starts to run down. A weight is placed upon themine; this Weight will, in practice, be at least 1 kilogram landmaximally about kilograms. The weight presses down on the plate 9 whichacts through the membrane 8 on the head 7c of the pivotally mountedlever 7. The locking projection 7b thereby frees the locking .Slide 4bof the clock mechanism so that when the clock mechanism has run down,the locking `slide 4b `springs back into the clock mechanism.

If the load resting on the plate 9 is removed, the firing pin 17, actingunder the inuence of the spring 18, engages the blocking lug 7a, whichis preferably formed with an angled cam surface, thereby raising thelever 7. This, in turn, frees the firing pin 17 which then, still underthe influence of spring 18, strikes the primer 16 which, in turn,ignites the percussion `cap 19. The latter, in turn, sets oli the primercharge 13 which ultimately detonates the main charge 26, 27.

The embodiment of FIGURES 3 and 4 differ from the above describedembodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2 in that the lever 7 and membrane 8 arereplaced by a sliding head 30 made of plastic material and biasedupwardly, as viewed in FIGURE 3, by a spring 31. The head 30 is axiallydisplaceable within limits. The head 30 is provided with an integrallocking projection 30b which coacts with the tiring pin 17, and with alocking projection 36a cooperating with the slide element of the clockmechanism. The upper free end of the head 30 has a sphericalconfiguration. The head is sealed by means of a lip-type seal.

It will be seen from the above description of the two embodiments that adetonator according to the present invention offers a number ofadvantageous characteristic features.

The head of the locking frame, i.e., the lever 7 or the head member 30,are so configured as t-o be engaged, centrally or substantiallycentrally, within a limited area which may even be point-shaped. Thislimited area can be engaged directly, as is the case with the sphericalhead member 30, or it may be engaged by the pressure plate 9. The lattermay itself have a curved conguration. The element which actually blocksthe forward movement of the firing pin, i.e., the blocking elementconstituted by parts 7a and 36h, respectively, is diametrically oppositethe clock mechanism.

Furthermore, the diametral web will be seen to divide the housing intotwo compartments which accommodate the main charges. The web itself canbe considered as having upper and lower layers; the upper layer supportsthe locking means of which at least a portion is located centrally, aswell as the clock mechanism. The lower layer supports the primer chargeassembly, located immediately below the clock mechanism, as well as thetiring pin.

Furthermore, the web is provided with a ring-shaped portion which allowsthe head 7c of lever 7, or the head member 30, to move up and down,i.e., axially with respect to the housing.

Furthermore, the arrangement according to the present invention providesa generally rectangular recess in the web for receiving the clockmechanism, as well as the vertical and diametral recess for receivingthe locking means. Moreover, the web arrangement makes it possible toprovide the very conveniently congured stepped cylindrical recess foraccommodating the primer charge assembly.

In practice, the housing can be made very simply by conventionalmanufacturing processes. This is also the case if the web is madeintegral with the housing. Furthermore, the lower cover can be madeintegral with the housing. The upper cover will be provided withsuitable recesses for accommodating the winding stem of the clockmechanism, as well as for making possible the transmission of motion tothe locking means. In the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2, the lockinglever 7 does not itself project through the cover, but motion cannevertheless be imparted to the lever head 7c via the membrane 8, whilein the embodiment of FIGURES 3 and 4, the locking head itself projectsthrough the cover.

In practice, suitable sealing means are provided where necessary. Thesecan be readily manufactured and assembled with the remaining structure.A particularly good seal against moisture, dirt, and the like, isprovided with the arrangement of FIGURES 1 and 2 in which there is nophysical opening through which the locking lever 7 passes.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 3 and 4, the blocking element 30h isarranged within a recess of the web and serves to prevent rotation ofthe head member 39.

Thus, the present invention provides a detonator which incorporatesrelatively few parts, each of which can easily be mass-produced at lowcost, and which can be assembled in a very simple manner. In particular,the arrangement makes it possible -to insert the primer assembly last.Furthermore, the detonator is very rugged, is well sealed againstoutside influences, and is fully operable even at extreme temperatures.Also, the over-all height of the device is very small. Yet anotheradvantage is that the detonator operates very reliably, and can even beused in an inclined position.

A very marked advantage of the present invention is that the deviceoperates even when the weight on the locking means is as low as onekilogram, because all that the force acting on the detonator is calledupon to do is to counteract the effect of relatively weak spring means,whose low spring forces will effect a secure safety despite the presenceof but a small force on the locking means.

The detonator according to the present invention can be used as aweight-responsive Contact or tread mine which, in contradistinction toother mines of this type, will explode only after the weight thereon hasbeen removed.

It will be understood that the above description of the presentinvention is susceptible to various modifications, changes andadaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A detonator mechanism comprising, in combination:

(a) a housing;

(b) explosive charge means arranged within said hous- (c) a firing pinarranged within said housing and continuously biassed from a restposition toward a tiring position in which said explosive charge meansare detonated;

(d) weight-responsive locking means having a blocking element, saidlocking means being carried by said housing for movement between adepressed position in which said blocking element engages said ring pinto prevent movement of the latter from its rest position to its firingposition, and a released position in which said blocking element is outof the path of movement of said firing pin, said locking means beingarranged centrally of said housing; and

(e) a clock mechanism arranged radially with respect to said lockingmeans and having a radially movable slide element which is movablebetween an engaged position wherein said slide element engages saidlocking means to hold the same in its depressed position, thereby toprevent movement thereof to its released position, and a disengagedposition wherein said slide element is free of said locking means,thereby to allow the same to move to its released position, said slideelement beingin its engaged position prior to running off of said clockmechanism and in its disengaged position after said clock mechanism hasrun olf, in consequence of which said locking means will, upon theremoval of a weiUht depressing the same, free said ring pin for movementtoward its firing position.

2. A detonator mechanism as dened in claim 1 wherein said locking meanshas an engaging portion of limited surface area, and wherein saidblocking element is diametrically opposite said slide element of saidclock mechanism.

3. A detonator mechanism as detined in claim 1 wherein said housing isprovided With a generally diametrically arranged web which divides saidhousing into two compartments, said web supporting said locking means,said mechanism and said tiring pin; said explosive charge meansincluding explosive charges arranged in said compartments as well as aprimer charge assembly which is also supported by said web and isarranged below said clock mechanism.

4. A detonator mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said lockingmeans comprise an elongated lever one end of which is pivotallyconnected to an end of said web, the other end of said lever beinglocated at the center of said web and being a head engageable by saidsliding element of said clock mechanism, said blocking element beingconstituted by a projecting lug carried by said lever intermeediate itsends.

5. A detonator mechanism asd etined in claim 4 wherein said housing isprovided with a top cover which is provided with a recess which is inalignment with said head of said lever, said recess being closed off bya membrane, and said membrane carrying an actuating plate so thatpressure on said actuating plate is transmitted to said head of saidlever via said membrane.

6. A detonator mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein -said lockingmeans comprise a head member mounted for limited up and down movementand a spring continuously urging said head member to its up position,the latter constituting said released position of said locking means,said head member, interengaging with said slide element of said clockmechanism, and said blocking element of said head member being integralwith the rest of said member and extending in the direction of the upand down movement.

7. A detonator mechanism as defined in claim 6 wherein said blockingmember is arranged within a recess of said web and serves to preventrotation of said head member.

8. A detonator mechanism as dened in claim 3 wherein said locking meanshave a substantially spherical portion located outside of said casing.

9. A detonator mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said housing isgenerally cylindrical, and wherein said web is integral with theremainder of said housing.

10. A detonator mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing isprovided with a generally diametrically yarranged web, said web havingan upper layer and a lower layer, said locking means being arranged sothat at least a portion thereof is positioned in the region of thecenter of said web in said upper layer thereof for up and down movementand said clock mechanism being arranged radially of said portion of saidlocking means and also in said upper layer of said web; said explosivecharge means including a primer charge assembly supported by said lowerlayer of said web and located below said clock mechanism and said firingpin being 1ocated to move in the remainder of said lower layer of saidweb; said blocking element of said locking means extending down intosaid lower layer of said web when said locking means is in its depressedposition.

11. A detonator mechanism as dened in claim 10 wherein said web isprovided, at its center, with a ringlike portion which receives saidportion of said locking means.

12. A detonator mechanism as defined in claim 11 wherein said clockmechanism is received in a generally rectangular recess :of said web,and wherein said web is provided with an opening through which extendssaid blocking element of said locking means.

13. A detonator mechanism ias defined in claim 12 wherein said primercharge assembly is located within a cylindrical, stepped recess of saidweb arranged below said clock mechanism.

14. A detonator mechanism as defined in claim 10 wherein said housing isprovided with top and bottom covers, said upper cover being providedwith a -central recess through which said locking means extend and witha further recess through which a winding stem for said clock mechanismextends.

15. A detonator mechanism as defined in claim 14, further comprisingsealing means between said covers and said housing.

16. A detonator mechanism as defined in claim 14 wherein said centralrecess is closed off by a membrane.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,288,797 12/1918Asbury 102-84 2,485,949 10/1949 Wilson et al. 102-84 2,982,209 5/1961Borcher 102-84 X FOREIGN PATENTS 864,354 l/1941 France. 490,806 2/1954Italy.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL FEINBERG, Examiner.

G. L. PETERSON, G. H. GLANZMAN,

Assistant Examiners.

1. A DETONATOR MECHANISM COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) A HOUSING; (B)EXPLOSIVE CHARGE MEANS ARRANGED WITHIN SAID HOUSING; (C) A FIRING PINARRANGED WITHIN SAID HOUSING AND CONTINUOUSLY BIASSED FROM A RESTPOSITION TOWARD A FIRING POSITION IN WHICH SAID EXPLOSIVE CHARGE MEANSARE DETONATED; (D) WEIGHT-RESPONSIVE LOCKING MEANS HAVING A BLOCKINGELEMENT, SAID LOCKING MEANS BEING CARRIED BY SAID HOUSING FOR MOVEMENTBETWEEN A DEPRESSED POSITION IN WHICH SAID BLOCKING ELEMENT ENGAGES SAIDFIRING PIN TO PREVENT MOVEMENT OF THE LATTER FROM ITS REST POSITION TOITS FIRING POSITION, AND A RELEASED POSITION IN WHICH SAID BLOCKINGELEMENT IS OUT OF THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRING PIN, SAID LOCKINGMEANS BEING ARRANGED CENTRALLY OF SAID HOUSING; AND